Day 203 Again one local bus but this time the second was not too far away either. The No 314 and No 315.

 After a foray into Croydon to visit banks, and shops for Christmas presents, I caught a tram from East Croydon to New Addington. 

8/8 Stratus at 200FT in central Croydon

A cold and murky East Croydon tram stop

My 314 resting

Stagecoach Dart 36549 at layover point

Looking towards New Addington tram terminus with cloud 'on the deck.'

The journey should take 75 minutes

My bus starting to leave with a No 464 beside it.

At the stop adjacent to the tram stop I caught Stagecoach's 36549 in the direction of Eltham station. The timetable stated it should take about 75 minutes but this was a pre-Christmas Saturday so I was expecting traffic to have some impact on my progression. As we boarded the driver told each passenger he would not be using Gascoyne Road. Therefore instead of turning left down Salcot Road he did a loop around the tram terminus and heading down the hill to the roundabout where Lidl has replaced the Cunningham and used King Henry's Drive to reach the normal route at Goldcrest Way.

Now back on normal route with low stratus giving fog at this location

Here the bus was accompanied by the No 64 whereas in Salcot Road and Gascoyne Road it would have been alone and we headed along this road at 1203 reaching the main road back down to the Addington tram and bus interchange where we arrived at 1210. From here the bus runs along Kent Gate Way on which there is one bus stop at Addington Pumping Station, which we sailed past at a rate of knots. This took us into the London Borough of Bromley and we continued straight on at the Coney Hall roundabout to Hayes (Kent). After the shopping area at Hayes the bus climbed past Hayes Hill Road to turn right at Pickhurst Mead and again right into Mountfield Road, finally as the sole user of the road. At Bourne Vale the bus turned left and ran along the bottom of this valley until the end at Meadway, here we rejoined the routes of the 119 and 146 from Hayes. There was a queue of traffic heading past Ravensbourne school but we were able to sneak left along Hayes Lane to avoid this. However, the traffic in Westmoreland Road was definitely more of a hindrance as were other roads around Bromley and it took from 1230 to 1245 to get past Tweedy Road at Bromley North from St Marks at Westmoreland Road. For much of the last half an hour the bus was so full the bus had steamed up to the extent I could not take any photographs. As we turned left at Plaistow Lane the bus became the sole user of the road again and the bus ran towards Sundridge Park station with the windows clearing.

Plaistow Lane with Cutty Sharp barbers

Passing Elmstead Woods Station

I could not however, take a photograph of St Joseph's Catholic Primary school; which is located near where Debbie's place of schooling was. The church sold off that school land for housing so it is no longer there. Also for that matter we were too close or travelling too fast take take a photo of the church itself. Just past the church the bus turned left to take Orchard Road which later became Sundridge Avenue which eventually led to the roundabout at bottom of Logs Hill. Since Sundridge Park we were the only bus route to cover these roads and this remained the case as we turned left and passed under the railway at Elmstead Woods station at 1302. Soon we were into the London Borough of Greenwich which we entered at 1308 and took William Barefoot Drive. The road ends at Green Lane where the bus went left to Five Ways and then bore slightly right along Southwood Road so as to access New Eltham station. From Green Lane onwards the bus relinquished its single route status. At New Eltham station we took Footscray Road to Southend Crescent and then along Eltham High Street to terminate at Eltham station at 1330. Thus the journey took 90 minutes which is not too bad given the time of year.

Note sign above car in New Eltham

Arrival at Eltham station interchange

The bus setting of to rest, but I found it
wasn't very long before it was off back to
 New Addington

From Eltham station I took the 1347 train to London Bridge which meant I arrived there at 1415. From here I took the Northern line to Balham but at Clapham Common the driver informed us that someone somewhere had pulled the communication cord and it had to be investigated before we could continue. I emerged from the Underground at Balham at 1445 just as a No 315 passed by on its way to West Norwood. I thus had to wait 15 minutes for the next one although there was no information about bus frequency or time at the bus stop. There were numerous other posters but nothing about the bus. It was indicated by the plate above me but also missing was the letter to tell me it was bus stop A. 

Bus stop only serves the No 315

Abellio 8123 arriving

Abellio No 8123 arrived at 1450 and the driver got out and we had quite a long chat about what I was doing and why. She invited me and two other passengers to board whilst she had a vape to get out of the cold and at 1500 on the dot we were off. 

Awaiting departure

Passing Tooting Common

Initially the No 315 bus heads west but turns right to go north along the A24 and then soon swings SE alone, along Bedford Hill. This takes the bus to Tooting Common and eventually to Garrad's Road which then intercepts Tooting Bec Gardens. The bus turns left here and makes for St Leonard's Church Streatham where we arrived at 1508.

Christmas is getting closer near St Leonard's church

Starting a Hail and Ride section

At Streatham High Road the bus heads just left of straight on and took Glenelden Road, and here it entered the first of a number of Hail and Ride sections on this route. There were some barriers on this route where it was a £130 penalty for anything but a bus to go through. The bus went left along Valley Road to then turned right into Leigham 

Court Road, here joining the No 417 for a short spell. However it was soon taking a left and starting another Hail and Ride section from Canterbury Grove now the road signs said SE27 when all before had been SW16 after leaving Balham. We drifted around Royal Circus and then dropped down York Hill to reach West Norwood High Street where we joined other routes again as we turned right. at 1522. We passed the cemetery and then the railway station before turning right at Norwood garage. After the garage the bus turned left but almost immediately heading right and right again to terminate in Cheviot Road opposite Rothschild Street at 1525. The arrival time was exactly the duration the driver had told me since there has been no timetable at the bus stop in Balham , thus I wouldn't otherwise have known!

Journey's end at Cheviot Road

I caught a number 468 from Norwood garage to West Croydon and then a No 410 home arriving at 1630.

Day 202 One local bus the No 312 and then a trip to the northeast for the No 313.

After a meeting about environmentally friendly living in Carshalton I travelled to South Croydon on the No 119 and walked from the Swan and Sugar Loaf PH, now a TESCO Local, at 1247 to arrive at the South Croydon garage at 1300.

A short bus route for London,
29 mins

It suggested the next No 312 is in 19 minutes

The next No 312 in the Croydon garage

Arriva's EMC11 approaching as I ran back to
the bus stop

At the bus stop it stated that it was a 19 minute wait so I walked up to the garage and as I got there I saw a No 312 starting so hurried back to the bus stop. Arriva's electric single decker EMC11 once of London United based in their garage of Hounslow arrived at 1304. The bus stop indicated the journey should take twenty nine minutes and by 1309 we were passing the Swan and Sugar loaf and running towards central Croydon.

The Croydon flyover

The bus runs up the slip road by the flyover and into Wellesley Road stopping outside old Nestle building at 1315. The bus next turned right and headed past East Croydon station but doesn't use the bus station but goes around the NLA Tower or Threepenny bit and stops in Cherry Orchard Road at 1323.

Some actual telephone boxes with phones in by the NLA tower

There is lots of current and recent building work along this road including a rebuilt Oval primary school. Once at Addiscombe Road the bus turned right and followed the route of the No 289 to Addiscombe shopping centre.

A No 289 going the other way in Addiscombe Road

At 1330 we were crossing the tram tracks at what is now Addiscombe tramstop and heading to Ashburton Park beyond which we turned left at Stroud Green and crossed over the Tramlink at the old Woodside station. At St Luke's Woodside we turned right from Spring Lane into Portland Road and we followed this past Norwood Leisure centre. We continued almost to the railway station before turning left up Doyle Road and right into Clifford Road terminating at Norwood Junction station eastern side at 1344, 40 minutes after departure rather than the booked 29 minutes.

Portland Road Norwood

Arrival at Norwood Junction

Outside Norwood Junction

LATAM Boeing 777 PT-MVH inbound to Heathrow
 over Norwood Junction station

I just missed the 1346 to London Bridge so had to wait for the 1359 and once this reached its destination I boarded a Stratford bound No 388 bus to Liverpool Street. The next Chingford train was the 1448 and this delivered me to Chingford at 1515 where I again met Tim in his 'manor' to catch the No 313 to Potters Bar.

Tim next to Arriva's LT216

The bus was already in the adjoining bus station Arriva's 'Borismaster' LT216. This set off at 1520 along Station Road and down Kingshead Hill with the Lea Valley in front of us. 

A whole 5 more buses to use from this
bus stop in Chingford Station Road

Descending Kings Head Hill towards the
 Lee Valley reservoirs

On crossing over the A112 the bus became the only service along the Lea Valley Road until we reached the roundabout with Meridian Way in the London Borough of Enfield. We then headed to Enfield bus garage where we exchanged drivers betwixt 1541 and 1543; almost as quick as it can be done I'd wager. We then took the same route I have now taken a number of times into Enfield town centre at 1552 and around the one way system and up the hill past Enfield Chase station. 

Another 'Borismaster' on a No 313 going the other way LT6, we also saw LT2 the one coloured green

The bus route then forged off alone along the A1005 Ridgeway taking a little detour at Lavender Hill to enter the Chase Farm Hospital complex. We then returned to the Ridgeway and headed northwest past the Robin Hood pub at Botany Bay and on to the roundabout above the M25.

Chase Farm Hospital

Increasingly rural outlook as we headed NW

What appeared to have been a car fire above the M25

Just before the roundabout we left the Greater London area and entered Hertfordshire. By this time light was fading as we crossed the old Great North Road and ran around Potters Bar to terminate at the railway station at 1624. 

Arrival at Potters Bar railway and bus station

Tim and I then had a coffee and comestibles at Cafe Nero and next boarded a No 298 to Cockfosters Underground station. The Piccadilly line then conveyed us to Finsbury Park where Tim took a Victoria line train to Walthamstow and onwards to Chingford and I caught a Thameslink train to East Croydon arriving home around 1910.

  

 

 

Day 201, Even further north than the last trip because the only No 311 I could find was in Bishop's Stortford!

 The day started inauspiciously when I looked at the national rail enquiries to check the next train was running to find all were cancelled on our line until at least 1400. Later I found out a lorry had dislodged parts of a bridge onto the railway track. Thus we caught a bus to East Croydon where we bought our returns from Boundary of zone 6 to Bishop's Stortford with Senior Railcard for £10.60. The train was the 1028 to Victoria where we changed to the Victoria line and arrived on  the platform at Tottenham Hale with 20 minutes to wait for our train  to Bishop's Stortford. The train arrived on time and we arrived at the destination station at 1213. This should not have allowed me to catch the next bus but in fact had I tried I could have caught the 1214 from just outside the station.

The view from the bus stop of the railway station

Charmaine didn't intend to accompany me so I made sure she found the town centre before I returned to the bus and train interchange. 

Ryanair Boeing 737 EI-EKF outbound from Stansted Airport

Two Stephensons buses who provide services to the airport. The Central Connect service to Saffron Walden and Arriva Herts and Essex local No 308 service

There are a myriad of different operators fanning out from here in a similar way to Waltham Cross.

The total service should take 11 minutes, but does not include Tesco visit on graphic

The different colours indicate different
 bus companies

Quite a shock to see this bus now owned by
Central Connect
as it is one previously operated from
 Sutton or Merton garages

Old London General name still visible under paint

Arriva Herts and Essex 4008 approaching

At 1241 I boarded Arriva Herts and Essex No 4008 on route No 311 and until we reached the next stop I was alone with the driver. The next stop called Riverside is adjacent to the shopping centre and about five people boarded. 

Bus ticket

Crossing the navigable River Stort

The bus then looped around the east side of town and next crossed to the north heading west as it climbed up Hadham Road. No stop was made as we did this journey until we reached the top of the hill where a new estate had been built with fire and ambulance stations at Patmore Close. After letting two people alight we continued heading west across one roundabout and then turned left at the next one which enabled the bus to turn into Tesco where another person alighted. Only every other No 311 goes to Tesco. From here the bus returned the way it had come to the roundabout and turned right briefly into Hadham Road before soon taking the left into the Stortford fields newly built estate for which the builders are still selling houses. 

An indication of how mucky the windows were which caused considerable flare when I tried to take photographs from the bus

When we alighted it was at a temporary bus stop and presumably the bus will go further when the estate is extended. The return bus stop across the road was of a more permanent nature but presumably would not be the starting point back to Bishop's Stortford in the future. I arrived at 1258, 17 minutes after departure, almost the shortest route I have done and it tool over two hours to start it!!

Bus going to turn around

Temporary bus stop

Houses still for sale

Still plenty of houses available it would seem

I then walked back to the town which took about half an hour. 

Another bus company Richmonds headed towards
Hadham Road as I return to town centre on foot

The motte of the castle

The No 311 returning from the next run

A Stephenson's Optare heading towards Stansted

Central Connect bus coming from the east, perhaps 
Great Dunmow

Then we had a cup of tea and cake in the methodist church and walked back to the station. We caught the 1433 to Tottenham Hale and then the Victoria line just two stops to Finsbury Park where the Thameslink conveyed us to East Croydon where we arrived at 1600.